2009 ANNUAL REPORT Ad Level 3, 381 Brunswick Street Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 Ph 07 3215 0820 Fx 07 3215 0821 Em [email protected] ABN 91 707 882 259 The Board of the RGAQ in 2009 John Walsh (President) Manager, Gold Coast City Art Gallery Richard Baberowski (Vice-President) Coordinator Cultural Development, Community and Cultural Services, Moreton Bay Regional Council Brian Tucker (Secretary/Treasurer) Chartered Public Accountant / Individual Member John Waldron Cultural Heritage and Collections Manager, Creative Communities, Sunshine Coast Regional Council Tim Lynch Coordinator Cultural Facilities, Cultural Services, Community and Cultural Services, Moreton Bay Regional Council Michael Wardell Director, Artspace Mackay RGAQ Staff in 2009 Brooke Laidlaw Membership Officer RGAQ 2009 Annual Report Page 2 President’s Report Changes have taken place in the sector in recent years which have contributed to the increasing vibrancy and scope of the regional gallery network in Queensland. This is in spite of a range of challenges facing the sector, from weathering the impacts of the global financial crisis to meeting the changing demands of servicing wider and more diverse communities. Local government amalgamations continue to reshape the operations of council owned/run galleries and the role of their professional staff, while volunteer-run galleries face the ongoing concerns of collection management and preservation and issues of succession planning. RGAQ’s network of Queensland regional galleries is continuing to grow, with new galleries being opened in Roma, Clifton, the Atherton Tablelands and Tambo in recent years. Audiences also continue to grow, with more than 1.2 million people visiting regional galleries in Queensland in 20091. Exciting developments for regional galleries in Queensland include a number of recent initiatives, both State-wide and nationally, which have emerged to provide much-needed support for the sector. A few of these key developments are outlined below: National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries Throughout 2009, Version 1.1 of the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries (published September 2008) provided a valuable resource on best practice for the sector. The Standards were produced collaboratively by the National Standards Taskforce, representing: ♦ ACT Museums and Galleries ♦ Arts Tasmania ♦ Collections Council of Australia Ltd ♦ History Trust of South Australia ♦ Museum and Gallery Services Queensland Ltd ♦ Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory ♦ Museums & Galleries NSW ♦ Museums Australia (Victoria) ♦ Western Australian Museum A Memorandum of Understanding between Taskforce members provides for continual review to ensure that the Standards remain relevant to the needs of Australian galleries and museums. RGAQ 2009 Annual Report Page 3 Regional Galleries Partnership Program In late 2009, Arts Queensland consulted with the sector on a new funding initiative, The Regional Galleries Partnership Program. They subsequently announced a three-year (2010–2013) pilot funded by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland and the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, State and Territory Governments. The Regional Galleries Partnership Program provides funding of $200,000 per year from 2010 to 2013 to support regional galleries to develop exhibitions and associated activities. Funding is available for projects up to $50,000 with the expectation that Local Councils will contribute financially and/or in-kind to the project. The Program supports the development and production by regional galleries of: ♦ solo and group exhibitions of contemporary visual art, craft and design ♦ artist residencies that result in an exhibition ♦ publications to support exhibitions ♦ collaborative projects between regional galleries. The Program supports projects that will result in excellent and innovative artistic or cultural work. Projects should have a public outcome, deliver community benefits including opportunities for engagement and participation, and involve collaboration with other artists, organisations and businesses. Contemporary Touring Initiative (CTI) The Contemporary Touring Initiative (CTI) is administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts under the Visions of Australia Program. The CTI assists Collecting Institutions and other eligible organisations with the costs of developing and touring major exhibitions of contemporary Australian visual arts and craft across Australia. The CTI is part of the Australian Government’s Visual Arts and Craft Strategy and represents an ongoing commitment to contemporary Australian visual arts and craft, with continued funding of $2.06 million over four years announced in the 2007–08 Budget. Artspace Mackay was successful in obtaining CTI funding for its touring exhibition, Recycled Library: Altered Books. RGAQ 2009 Annual Report Page 4 As well as these new areas of support, the sector has received continuous strong support and services from the peak professional body for museums and galleries in Queensland, Museum and Gallery Services Queensland. Museum and Gallery Services Queensland Limited Museum and Gallery Services Queensland (M&GSQ) is a not-for-profit company, with RGAQ and Museums Australia Queensland (MAQ) as its two Company Members. Representation by two RGAQ Board members on the M&GSQ Board ensures that the regional gallery sector has significant input into M&GSQ’s activities and decision-making. M&GSQ has just completed its first five years of operation and its achievements over this short period are impressive. Here is a snapshot of these outcomes for the sector: ♦ M&GSQ has managed 54 touring exhibitions to 219 venues across Queensland and Australia. ♦ These exhibitions have shown the work of 1,166 artists and 48 curators. ♦ An audience of 728,121 has visited exhibitions toured by M&GSQ. ♦ 293 organisations have participated in Museums Alight!, M&GSQ’s annual week-long State-wide celebration of International Museum Day. ♦ 57 Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards (GAMAA) have been presented: 18 organisational Winners, 11 individual Winners, 18 organisational Special Commendations, and 10 individual Special Commendations. ♦ 102 professional development activities have been delivered by M&GSQ to paid and volunteer museum and gallery staff throughout Queensland, and from interstate. ♦ 2,925 people have participated in M&GSQ training and professional development activities: 1,544 metropolitan participants and 1,381 regional participants. ♦ 37 organisations from Queensland’s museum and gallery sector have participated in M&GSQ’s Standards Program. ♦ M&GSQ, in partnership with Museums Australia (RTO 2001–08), issued 11 Certificates IV in Museum Practice; 1 Certificate III in Museum Practice; and 191 Statements of attainment. ♦ M&GSQ has published a total of 47 editions of Artery, Source and Update. ♦ M&GSQ staff has responded to more than 4,200 enquiries from constituents and stakeholders. M&GSQ delivered a strong program of activities and services to the sector throughout 2009 (see page 12 of this report for highlights). RGAQ members continued to receive special access to M&GSQ’s programs and publications including concessions to attend M&GSQ’s Training and Professional Development programs and a waiver on GAMAA nomination fees. RGAQ 2009 Annual Report Page 5 RGAQ was pleased to support two of M&GSQ’s major initiatives in 2009 — RAISE YOUR VOICE: Fourth National Public Galleries Summit and Twelve Degrees of Latitude: Regional Gallery and University Art Collections in Queensland exhibition. RGAQ values its partnership with MAQ in the stewardship of M&GSQ, and I thank the MAQ executive committee members. I also sincerely thank the staff of Museum and Gallery Services Queensland for the ongoing operational support they provide for RGAQ throughout the year. Conclusion The Board of RGAQ met during 2009 to govern the organisation’s programs and membership services. I would like to acknowledge RGAQ Board members for their continued guidance: Richard Baberowski (Vice President), Brian Tucker (Secretary/Treasurer), John Waldron, Tim Lynch and Michael Wardell. The Board is grateful for the services of Brooke Laidlaw in the role of Membership Officer throughout 2009. RGAQ is dedicated to representing and advocating for the interests and concerns of the public gallery sector in Queensland. The input and support of members is crucial to the continued relevance and efficacy of the organisation’s programs and services. I encourage you to get actively involved, either by nominating for a position on the Board, or by giving your feedback on how RGAQ can best meet the needs of our constituents. John Walsh President 1. Museum and Gallery Services Queensland 2009 Annual Report, Appendix 14: 2009 Statistics – Attendances at Queensland Public Galleries and Visual Arts Venues, pp 66–68. RGAQ 2009 Annual Report Page 6 RGAQ Membership in 2009 RGAQ made a significant change to its membership fee structure for 2009. In previous years, there were two levels of membership fees: Full membership $360, and Standard membership $240 (including GST). To achieve a more equitable structure, the RGAQ Board reviewed membership fees for 2009 and decided to offer a flat rate of $240 (including GST) per organisation. This meant a significant reduction from previous years for most members. It also took into account the impact of local government amalgamations which has resulted in some councils being responsible